A 133-year-old tree in Wyoming’s Washakie Wilderness has sparked a dispute over how historic sites should be preserved in protected wilderness. The tree bears names carved by a survey crew that became stranded in a snowstorm while marking the Yellowstone Forest Reserve 133 years ago. The US Forest Service approved a plan to cut down the tree and remove it by helicopter for museum display. Wilderness Watch opposes the plan, arguing that removing the tree would harm the wilderness it represents. The group says the Forest Service has already cut other trees and cleared a user-created trail to reach the site. It also raised concerns about limited public notice and engagement, and has urged the agency to pause the project and consider alternatives.
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